Candidates in the Crowd: Jennifer Bennett Mrdakovic

Today's Candidate in the crowd is Jennifer Bennett Mrdakovic, M.S.

As The #ShuftanJobReport roars with OVER 10,900 subscribers!!!!!!, I am rolling out my second phase to help people. I post the report on M/W/F and want to use T/Th to feature excellent candidates. I built this community as a way of bringing together job searchers and those who are hiring. As an homage to Sports?Illustrated's?"Faces in the Crowd,"?I titled?"Candidates in the Crowd."?This?is a white space for candidates to discuss their previous work, hopes, and dreams and show off anything to the network. The Candidate will capture a hiring?manager's?attention, and good things will happen.Make sure you are following The Shuftan Job Report for all prior Candidates in the Crowd posts and job postings.

https://lnkd.in/gRP2KKsd

Hailing from Ann Arbor (yes, she'll probably yell "Go Blue!" at some point), Jenny is the marketing mastermind you didn't know you needed—but definitely do. She's got a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern's Medill School, which means she can probably explain how a TikTok video goes viral while also crafting a 30-page strategy deck (multitasking, anyone?).

Jenny's career kicked off at big-name agencies like Leo Burnett Arc and Havas, where she learned how to craft campaigns that make people feel things. Then she leveled up at Beam Suntory (yes, that Beam Suntory, and no, her job wasn't to sample the whiskey… although she won't say if she did). She co-led the in-house agency, managed brands, and became the queen of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts there. Basically, if there's a marketing battle, Jenny's leading the charge—probably on horseback, carrying a Beam Suntory flag.

In late 2023, the dreaded layoff struck like a Netflix series cancellation. But Jenny didn't sit around eating ice cream—okay, maybe a little—she took the chance to travel, catch up with family, and even dip her toes into the tech world. Oh, and now she's freelancing for Brooks Running, because of course, even her sneakers need to be part of a great brand story.

Jenny's on the hunt for her next big adventure in integrated marketing leadership. She's looking for a role where she can help brands be consumer-centric, culturally relevant, and most importantly, cooler than your competitor. With a track record of increasing engagement by 44% and driving double-digit sales growth at Beam Suntory, Jenny is like the marketing fairy godmother you didn't know you needed—but now can't live without.

Fun Fact: She's looking for opportunities in Chicago or remote—basically, she's willing to Zoom in from anywhere to bring your brand to life.

Enjoy her entry:

Candidate in the Crowd:? Jennifer B. Mrdakovic

Who am I?

Hi, I’m Jennifer Bennett Mrdakovic, but you can call me Jenny. I grew up in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) and have spent most of my adult life in Chicago with a few years in Los Angeles. Throughout my career, I have strategically advanced through both practical experience and academic achievements, earning a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University’s Medill School (IMC ’16). This solid educational foundation, combined with my professional experiences, positions me to make significant contributions to forward-thinking marketing teams.

I have extensive experience in marketing and advertising on both the agency and brand sides. My agency experience in Chicago includes Leo Burnett, Arc, and Havas. I deepened my digital, social and partnership expertise in L.A. For nearly five years, I was with Beam Suntory (now Suntory Global Spirits), co-leading their in-house creative agency and supporting regional brand management, while championing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as a Chicago Chapter Co-Lead of the Women’s Employee Impact Group.

A department-wide layoff at the end of 2023 prompted me to explore new opportunities and clarify my career goals. During this time, I traveled, connected with loved ones, supported a real estate tech startup, and am now contracting for influencer and integrated initiatives with Brooks Running.

What am I looking for?

I’ve been fortunate to work across various industries, including CPG, beverages, QSR, and lifestyle brands, equipping me with a creative, results-driven perspective for problem-solving and bringing brands to life in a meaningful way. I’m excited to leverage my skills and passion for marketing in a new role.

I am eager to stay on the brand side and seek an integrated marketing leadership role that defines and supports brand strategy across all campaign touchpoints in a consumer-centric and culturally relevant?way. I’m passionate about collaborating with various teams to drive innovation and build partnerships that align communication and creative initiatives with business objectives.

I’m ideally looking for opportunities in Chicago (or remote) but am open to discussing other locations for the right fit.

How do I drive results?

I drive results by maintaining a big-picture perspective while ensuring executional excellence and collaboration.?I actively foster a culture of teamwork, leveraging diverse strengths to achieve goals. With a focus on brand building, I lead teams in creative problem-solving and empowering innovative solutions that resonate with consumers, boosting engagement and retention and delivering impactful results, including a?44% increase in engagement and?double-digit sales growth over my tenure at Beam Suntory.

Contact me:? Don’t hesitate to reach out to chat or if you’d like to view my Portfolio (password protected):? https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/bennettj/ or [email protected]

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